AT95E vs AT3600 Cart

[sbroni09]

Hey guys, just revamping an old turntable from my parents. It's a JCPenny's MCS 6502 belt drive tt with a AT3600 magnetic cartridge already installed on it. I took a look at the cartridge the other day and it looks like the cantilever is turned to the right slightly (possibly bent?). It still sounds fine and my records look and sound fine as well. I was looking into getting a new cartridge anyways and wanted to ask the fine folks here at Audiokarma what they thought of getting another AT3600 or an AT95E. They seem to be basically the same thing. I've even seen some people put the 95 stylus in the 3600 body. All this to say, the AT3400 now has a Carbon Fiber cantilever on it and diamond stylus. Does this possibly help with playing records in any way? Really, I'm just looking for opinions on what exactly would be a good beginner/midrange cartridge for this record player. Thanks in advance!


Here's the specs for the AT3600CF...
Stylus: .6mil Conical Bonded Diamond tip
Cantilever: Alloy round tube
Tracking Force: 1.5 - 2.5 grams
Output Level: 4.2mV @ 5cm/sec. @ 1Khz
Frequency Range: 20 - 20Khz
Load Impedance: 47K ohm
Channel Balance: 1.5 dB
Channel Seperation: 20dB @ 1Khz & 15dB @ 10Khz
http://www.turntableneedles.com/Cartridge-AT3600CF_p_690.html

Also, this is what my cartridge looks like now, but still plays beautifully...
http://i.imgur.com/C8bWBFO.jpg

 

[SSaxdude]

I think you're confusing the AT3400 with the AT3600. The AT3400 body uses the same stylus as the AT95E. The AT3600 is totally different, and their styli are not compatible.

The ATN95E stylus is an elliptical, as opposed to the conical AT3600. Your stylus definitely needs to be replaced, it looks far too bent to be playable.

I use an AT3400 body with ATN95E stylus, as well as a CN5625AL (same body as the AT3600, but with a bigger conical stylus). I prefer the AT3400/ATN95E, although the CN5625AL is nothing to scoff at.

 

[beej]

I use an ATN95HE in a 3400 body. Really quite nice sounding.

To me, that stylus doesn't look so much bent as it looks like the cantilever is skewed to the right (or left depending on your perspective) which I always thought was a suspension issue. However, I actually had a conversation with Ed Saunders about a stylus/cantilever like this and he indicated (this is Ed now) that so long as the cantilever itself isn't actually bent there is no reason not to continue to use the stylus. Ed indicated that once the stylus tip is in the groove and the anti-skate was properly adjusted the stylus should be fine. Thought that was an interesting perspective.

 

[tubewade]

It seems to me that you already have an AT95E, being that the stylus is green. Usually the 3400/conical stylus is either red or yellow. The 3600 is different altogether as seen in the first picture. I really like it but I can't say whether you would like it vs the AT95. They are cheap enough to purchase so that its almost worth the experiment just to find out what you think if you are inclined to that sort of thing. I can hardly imagine that there would be very much difference between the 3400 and the 3600 but I have not compared them directly so someone else will have to answer for that.

If you have the budget for it there is a ViVidline stylus available for the 95E/3400 that would really take your cartridge to another level and it should be considered.

 

[sbroni09]

So just for some more clarification this, that picture is not of my cartridge. That picture is a similar situation to what mine is. Not exactly, as mine actually plays records and sounds fine. Haven't had any problems using it the last few weeks and my records also seem to be fine.

As for the cartridge question, I may have been asking about the wrong cartridge comparisons. The actual cartridge I have on my tt now is a AT91/AT3600CF (whatever you want to call it). Ordered it from Turntableneedles a days ago and have recently installed. Any info on this cartridge or if it's any good?

 

[Balifly]

See :

• SUMMARY
• FEATURES
• SPECIFICATIONS
• WHY AUDIO-TECHNICA?

Audio Technica AT 91/AT3600CF
http://eu.audio-technica.com/cartridges/AT91

 

[JamVal]

I can't make a comparison to the AT-91/3600, but I do have an AT95E and like it. In the same price range I have also used an AT-311ep (P-mount with the universal adapter), also a nice sounding cartridge, but I broke the tip off the stylus. (another story. No criticism of AT, pilot error - sometimes you have to tighten up on the nut behind the steering wheel.)

In some cases with AT cartridges, a new cartridge isn't much more than a replacement stylus. In fact last year I could buy an AT-311EP with universal adapter cheaper than the replacement stylus for the 311EP. But prices seem to be on the rise now.

I've got a Shure M93E with a slightly bent or loose cantilever that plays ok. Comes in handy for first audition of thrift store and garage sale vinyl finds. So if you get a new cartridge hang on to the one you've got.